HeavyM Workshop: A Creative Journey with Unisphères in Bordeaux
The HeavyM workshop is a creative and immersive experience designed for anyone interested in stage design, projection mapping, and visual performances. Engaging content is essential in projection mapping and stage design, as it captivates audiences and enhances the overall experience. A video projector is essential equipment for creating visual displays and enabling projection mapping, as it projects content onto surfaces and brings creative visuals to life. The beginning of projection mapping dates back to the 1960s, with its foundational development rooted in early academic and artistic experiments that utilized basic tools and techniques to create visual effects.
HeavyM is a ready-to-use projection mapping software developed in France by Digital Essence. You can learn projection mapping with HeavyM in just a few minutes, thanks to its beginner-friendly approach and intuitive interface. In addition to HeavyM, there are other similar softwares and tools available in the field that support creative projects, real-time visual effects, and technical experimentation in projection mapping. These companies provide various solutions to enhance user experience, advertising, and analytics in digital art projects.
Unisphères: Using Video Mapping to Serve Live Performances
About the Unisphères Collective
We recently were happy to receive extremely positive feedback from Kamel Ghabte, head of the digital arts department of Unisphères, who reported on his training sessions using HeavyM. Unisphères aims to provide valuable resources and support to participants, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge needed for success in projection mapping. His project is in line with our vision of video mapping and brings a unique answer to the expectations of professionals from the entertainment and cultural sectors, both in and around Bordeaux.
A Partnership with IDDAC for Digital Arts Training
The main mission of Unisphères is to bring people together all while respecting diversity. For a year now, they’ve been organizing two-day workshops that focus on software HeavyM. Participants need a computer and an internet connection to install or activate the software. Essential devices used in the workshop include a video projector, which is crucial for creating visual displays and enabling projection mapping, as well as Olga kits. During the workshop, participants learn how to prepare and project visual content. Participants use the Olga kit to build volumes that serve as projection surfaces for mapping. Attendees are organized into a group or groups to share equipment, such as the video projector, and collaborate on building their setups. This training is offered in collaboration with IDDAC (Regional Institute for Cultural and Artistic Development) and targets both amateurs and professionals wishing to gain knowledge in the field of designing, producing and managing digital art projects. Projection mapping experienced a boom in the 2000s due to advancements in computers and graphic creation software, making it an increasingly popular tool in digital art.
Inside the HeavyM Workshop Experience
Diverse Profiles and Objectives
The latest session took place in April and gathered a wide audience including performing arts professionals (lighting technicians and stage managers looking for solid training in that field), artists (urban and visual artists who wanted to learn more about interactive stage design and video mapping) as well as learning officers wishing to offer multi-level training. The workshop fosters artistic creation by enabling participants to experiment with new visual techniques. Projection mapping is widely used on building facades for advertising and entertainment purposes, showcasing its versatility and appeal across various industries. Other examples of projection mapping applications include product launches, immersive art installations, live concerts, and museum exhibits.
Skills and Knowledge Acquired
Once the workshop has been completed, participants have learned how to:
> Put together a video mapping project, taking technical aspects into account
> Integrate video into stage design
> Create multimedia and interactive shows from A to Z
Participants also gain hands-on experience with a variety of projection mapping techniques. HeavyM’s interface uses a WYSIWYG method, meaning what you see is what you project, simplifying the creative process for users.
During the workshop, participants conducted tests with the software, allowing them to experiment and refine their skills. They discovered how easy it is to change visuals or configurations on the fly, adapting their projects as needed. The hands-on approach helped everyone improve their projection mapping abilities. Thanks to HeavyM, participants could quickly get started and see results, focusing on creativity rather than technical hurdles. The software enabled them to work efficiently and effectively on their projects.
All participants got to understand and learn more about video mapping and were provided with a tool that matches their projects’ key characteristics. A true success! The technique of projection mapping is increasingly accessible and does not require heavy investments, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of creative projects.
Why HeavyM Was Chosen for the Workshop
Kamel Ghabte’s First Encounter with HeavyM
“Video mapping opens a door to the digital world that will become essential over the next years”, says Kamel Ghabte
Unispheres workshop with HeavyM
A self-taught musician, sound engineer and electronic music producer at S.A.E. Paris, Kamel Ghabte has become an instructor in the field of sound, a composer, and a sound designer. He received the Pro qualification from Apple’s Logic Pro in 2007 and has shifted towards IT to become a digital artist and an IT consultant. His interest in digital creation led him to explore new forms of artistic expression, including projection mapping.
As he was online looking for a software to use for a social inclusion project basing on arts and digital technology, he found out about HeavyM. Kamel had never done video mapping before but it was important to him to offer a strong tool for real-time, visual and graphics creation. After exploring our website and signing up for our HeavyM trial, he told us he was “pleasantly surprised by its ease of use and its quality”. New users like Kamel can also access help and support to get started with the software.
Unispheres workshop with HeavyM
The Key Features That Made a Difference
A year after this first trial, he keeps praising HeavyM and these are its main benefits to him:
– Can be used on both Windows and MacOS
– Completeness of Tutorials
– Intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate and use
– Automatic music sync
– Free trial version and affordable subscription price
– Frequent updates (5 major updates over the past 12 months).
The Impact of Video Mapping on Local Culture
A Creative Vision for Bordeaux
Kamel is convinced that video mapping can be a strong tool for the artistic and cultural development of the city. “Here, in Bordeaux, there are a lot of extremely varied projects happening. We are lucky enough to enjoy a rich cultural life and to be surrounded by a lot of artists that are interested in innovation. I am actually considering setting up permanent video mapping installations in Bordeaux. These installations can transform public space and engage the community in new ways. I will, of course, keep you posted!”
HeavyM’s Commitment to the Artistic Community
Knowing that these cultural and artistic projects are being highlighted by video mapping makes us want to further develop the software! HeavyM is committed to ongoing support for the artistic community. We are looking forward to releasing new, more advanced features and to going deeper in terms of creativity and interactivity!
Want to Join a HeavyM Workshop?
Bring your project to light with HeavyM and discover digital signage solutions!